Takaichi's Taiwan Remark Sparks Deep Crisis With China

A single careless remark by Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has provoked the most serious crisis in years in relations with its powerful neighbor, China. Although, according to Japanese officials, the prime minister's words were not pre-planned and did not reflect a hardening of Tokyo's policy, they have already led to serious economic and diplomatic tensions, for which no solutions are yet in sight.

The cause of the crisis was Takaichi's non-standard answer to a question from an opposition MP in parliament. She spoke openly about the possibility of Japan giving a military response in the event of a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan. This statement violated the long-held policy of "strategic ambiguity" adopted by Tokyo and its main ally, the US, which until now had allowed them to avoid public discussion of such scenarios.

Although the Japanese government admits that "it would have been better not to say it," they also insist that what was said was not wrong, and they cannot take the words back. This uncompromising stance only deepens the crisis, as Beijing's main demand is the retraction of the statement.

China's response was not long in coming and is being expressed through steps to put pressure on Japan's economy. These include a boycott of tourist trips, a halt to the import of Japanese seafood, as well as the cancellation of diplomatic and cultural events. According to analysts, losses in the tourism sector alone could exceed $14 billion annually. There is a greater fear that China will restrict the supply of rare earth metals. This is a serious threat for Japan, as it imports 60% of these metals from China.

The tension is also noticeable on the diplomatic front. A high-ranking Chinese official, receiving his Japanese counterpart in Beijing, not only described the talks as "serious" but also sent a message with his attire. The style of his suit is associated with the 1919 Chinese student uprising against Japanese imperialism.

Experts predict a "long winter" in relations, which could continue throughout Takaichi's term in office. Japanese officials admit that there is currently "not even a starting point for improvement," describing the situation as a stalemate.